FFXI NostalgiaFollow

Hello all,

Forgive me. I used to be a very active member of these forums, and haven't posted in probably well over four years or so. I retired as a 75rdm back in '09. I tried making numerous returns but gave up each time as I could not relive the experience I had during the 'pre-aht-urghan' days.

This is not a "I'm returning to FFXI, so what's new?" thread. I was just listening to the BGM of North/South Gustaberg on youtube, and totally got nailed with nostalgia. I remember stepping out into this zone for the first time after starting out in Bastok, and getting killed by an "uber powerful Quadav!". Spending hours upon hours leveling in this zone with numerous jobs, dying by gobs and bones, looking at my menu screen, and seeing 50+ people all leveling in the same zone; stealing the worm I needed to hit my chain 2 while leveling solo with my mnk even though i probably would've died taking it on lol. Coming back to the beginner zone with an advanced job, and handing down advice to those just starting out. I miss those days.

Hiding in the cargo deck of the ship to Mhaura while all the high levels annihilated the pirates, and flriting with the hot female hume you though was an actual female. Party deaths in the dunes. Who can forget these days? Are you even still in the generation that experienced this? All the noob related errors that made things difficult, but you can laugh at now. You know? When things were fun? Just like when you go bowling just to knock down pins instead of getting the highest score possible?

For all you old timers. Tell me about the times you miss. The times that no matter how many updates, no matter how many expansions, tell me about those times you remember most. :)

What you said about running around leveling in a lowbie zone, only for someone to take your mob when you were about to get a chain going...I miss the same. I must the hustle and bustle of tons of players around, constantly running in to and meeting new people.

I love FFXI, but I miss the MMO feel it used to have. The game for a time was flushed out with players in a lot of different zones. Now if you want to see a significant number of people, you better be in Jeuno or in the current end-game areas.

I miss being a noob, leveling Warrior / Monk and tanking with a 1h sword and shield for experience parties in the jungle. Why'd I use a 1h sword? Because I simply liked them more than other weapons, lol...

I miss the excitement of walking in to a new zone for the first time, with new kinds of monsters I had never seen before.

I miss not having any responsibilities, other than to go to school in the morning; then coming back home for full evenings of FFXI, lol...Being able to play the game stress-free.

I miss a lot of things. =/

I just miss most zones not being devoid of any non-NPC life.

Tottally miss the old way of leveling... no theres little to no reason for people to care about gear or skill in most xp situations.
Theres no more showing your skills off or diversity in xp locations

I miss all the shouts in the starter cities, and the lag at their auction houses. I miss not knowing why I could plow through EM-T bones with my MNK, and then having my ass handed to me by an EP jelly. I remember the herd of players huddled at the chocobo quest stable in Jeuno, and the level 40 WAR making the mistake of thinking he can take Steelfleece in the plains and getting pwned thinking he couldn't be much stronger than the other rams ^^

How many of you fell prey to the goblins in Wadi trying to make your first 2000gil doing that silly waterfall quest? The frustrations of getting that damned magicked skull, or the ancient papyrus? The sense of awe you had the first time you saw someone in their full AF?

FFXI brought something unique I never experienced before. Though it can't be relived, I was happy to be a part of that world.

There was most definitely a diversity of xp locations back during old school ffxi. Bet you young-ins don't even have a moongate pass.

That was a well told story Glitterhands.

Reminds me of a 58 hume SAM that helped me with my last subjob item many eons ago. He told me not to waste time hunting the few and far between Ghouls in Valkurm when Gusgen Mines is filled with them. "Gusgen Mines?" I asked.

So off we went to a secluded orifice in the far corner of Konschtat. Inside, I saw one of the freakiest zones I have ever been in thus far. The ghosts, sirens, and flickering lights was seriously creepy. He being far above in level than the Ghouls was laying waste to them in seconds. Considering an upper tier Dune party took well over a minute to bring down a Ghoul, I was like, "Wow! This won't take long at all!"

.... 100 minutes later.

"F**K!!! Why won't it drop???" No more Ghouls in sight. They are dust. "Let's go in deeper", he says. I follow, the sirens still freaking me out, and having trouble finding more Ghouls. "Hmm, maybe there is more this way?" I said. "Wait! Don't go that way!" He cried. "Oh SH*T! NM!" Vendict was defeated by Smothered Schmidt. Despite being totally my fault, the humble SAM apologized for not voking the NM ghost off of me even though I was out of range, and he was locked up with God knows how many Ghouls.

Some unknown conversation ensued, and then I found myself being tractored by a BLM, and then raised by a WHM. They told me to disband and join their group. I did, and they already had a skull in their treasure lot, and they told me to nab it. Then I was given an LS pearl, and found myself a member of the first widespread linkshell. Before it was always like 6-7 members tops. This one had well over 50 members. I walked in on a convo from the WHM and BLM (part of the same shell) giving the SAM crap for letting "another one bite the dust". Apparently the gratuitous SAM was having a little trouble keeping those he helped alive.

I ended up having so many adventures with members of that LS. =')

Oh man, those jungle parties were equally fun as they were frustrating. Hitting 25 and questing your Kazham airship pass. Taking that ride, not knowing what to expect. As a budding RDM, the amount of invites as soon as I touched down was insane. Choosing a party, and then heading into the horrors of those jungles for the first time.

Sooooo much competition during peak hours from the campers made exp very slow. You know it was bad when your WHM dies from a bomb toss that another party was fighting. Before the update, Smithy trains lead to so much death, and lag at the zone, and the unknowing campers who decided to set up at that one vacant spot that was empty for a reason. BECAUSE A FREAKIN' GOB SPAWNS THERE!! But when things went well, these next five levels went by fast. REAL fast.

Then moving on to Yhoator only to realize that you're chance of survival making it back to Kazham after disbanding was .0000001%. Man the times I got lost in that damn jungle. How do you get lost when you have a map? lol. All of these things made it a blast though. Plus these were the levels that jobs started coming into their own.

I won't even bring up Garliage. Once I discovered Altepa and its awesome music. I never went back to that crappy zone unless it was to quest.

Oh man. I never did get my joy toy, but the hours I put in trying to get it in the Grotto was ridiculous. I ended up realizing that trying to get it was holding me back from my other goals, but promised myself I would come back to get it. Never happend though ='( Almost makes me want to come back just for that purpose.

I was a profound NM hunter in FFXI. I remember getting PM's here to help, and I felt like mercenary due to what people were willing to shell out just to claim their target mob. I bet even today, it is still heavily camped. One of many things I felt was unfinished.

Edited, Aug 5th 2012 8:30pm by SmokesAlot

If I could give up all my accomplishments for one thing it would be for time to turn back and for me never to pick up FFXI. As much as I love it, it has not been a positive force in my life. In answer to your question, if giving up all my accomplishments made FFXI like it was, all my old friends included, all knowledge of the game erased back to 2004/5 standards, then yes I'd trade for that. I like the game fine now and, looking back, I realise that the 'old days' were extremely flawed. However, back in 2004/5, when we didn't know anything from today or have Abyssea and FoV/GoV, FFXI was a blast. I haven't had as much fun in game in about 4-5 years than I did when all my friends still played and everything was still exciting. I just miss the hustle and bustle of towns being populated with people, not mules, and finding people who needed to do the same stuff as you was relatively easy compared to now.

Edited, Aug 5th 2012 7:57am by Diamondis

You can't ever go back. You can't ever have your first dunes party, you first use of a subjob, your first time entering Jeuno, your first rank 2-3 fight. Even if low levels were lively and crowded again, it would feel like a chore to go through again. We all strive for new memories against new challenges, which is why endgame's constant "haha you died sucks to be you! maybe if you do this 200 times you'll get good at it" philosophy is so frustrating.

Some people are still living the dream, even today.

I remember something similar for my Jujitsu Gi on my monk. I scrimped and saved and sold crystal stacks and farmed silk thread and whatever else I did back then until I had juuuuuust enough to be able to afford it. Triumphantly, I headed back to the AH, only to find out the price had jumped 100k from the last time I had checked. I lamented the fact in my LS that I had just spent so much time farming up the gil for it, and now I have to keep at it. One of my friends lent me 100k on the spot, and I bought it right there and then. I spent the better part of that month paying him back.

A jujitsu gi is now...what...30k?

Under Observation.

I hear ya on the NM hunts. It was one of the things I loved to do most of all. Wither if it was for their drops, to complete a quest, or just a challenge in a duel of the fittest. My NM hunts took me all over Vana'diel. I miss the days when I would go to somepage and look up the next victim to cross off my list.

The level raises was just another reason for me not to come back. RDM was my only 75. But I had THF, PLD, and DRG all around 60ish, and I wanted to finish them off. It was just going to cost me the time I no longer desired to spend exping.

I didn't even know about the server merge. I should probably change my sig lol.

Nah... screw that. I will always be Vendict of Alexander.

I think that is one of the things that makes this particular game special, not only did it contain certain dynamics that were exclusive to this particular online game, but it was also my very first MMORPG. I was also fairly new the the internet as well: NOOB, Mob, ToD, AFK, BRB, TTYL, WB. TNL? I didn't know what any of these acronyms meant, and I learned them all here. I learned how to use th auto translate system, and partied with some really nice Japanese players who taught me the knicks and knacks of being above the average player.

I don't know. Updates did fix some really crucial flaws in the game, but others along with expansions took away the very essense of what made FFXI a game of its own. If only my friends were stilla around. I would come back for sure.

I had a dose of not fun nostalgia last night when I was trying to finish up the trials for Empyreal Arrow.

You remember how in Kuftal Tunnel, Guivre would come along and eat the exp parties every once in a while? A few other zones were guarded by NMs like that, but Guivre was the big one I remember.

Well, last night that was Iratham chowing down on tasty Tarutaru RNG in Tahrongi(A). He killed me about five times before I said screw it and went to the clionids, only to be stomped on by Macgonanngal there. I tried mandragoras one more time, when Iratham decided to chow down AGAIN. This time I tried to warp out before he devoured me, only he managed to get one last hit in as my warp scroll went off, so that I had disappeared from the screen but not yet zoned to Jeuno because I was dead.

Good times, good times.

Maybe it was just because I was a BLM in the days when that actually meant something, but I almost never experienced the terrible wait times for parties or anything like that that people whined about so much. And I was the type who didn't have a problem being the party leader and putting together my own groups, even if it meant using unique setups and playing "noob teacher" for a while. Also, I was never the type of person who really cared about leveling as fast as possible and I'm still not. It took me something like two or three years to reach 75 (lol). There was so much to do before reaching endgame, I was constantly getting distracted. Chasing down rare NMs, collecting all the jobs, doing quests and missions, even just stopping to help out random strangers with whatever they happened to need. I remember making money by selling warp services in places like the jungle. That was awesome. XD

And yeah. Playing with Japanese people was always fun and different. It took me forever to figure out what orz meant. XD And even more, uh, interesting, than that were the gilseller parties I would sometimes get invited to because of my character's Chinese name. I didn't actually know it was Chinese when I picked it. I thought I made it up. But yeah... lots of incomprehensible tells from those guys. lol

I don't think I could ever come back to this game, even if my friends did still play. I feel like it would just be even more depressing knowing how much things have changed. I'd rather just keep my memories.

I started leveling a mule character to get a feeling of accomplishing things again for the first time. Kind of fun, tbh.

Yeah... And I'm glad I was able to meet the people I did.

I haven't played this game but that vid brought up crazy emotions, i miss the old days when some random blm helped me with my subjob items..... Gave me my first LS and was the greatest group of people i've met on a game... I sure do miss this game... haven't played since 02' was a 75DRG/37SAM....

Part of me wants FFXIV to fail so I can hang on to XI, and part of me wants it to succeed so I can begin those nooby memories all over again in a similar setting.

I played XI for seven years. In all that time, I've been in Dragon's Aery all of twice. And both times, I was only there for a couple of minutes.

And sky was pretty cool when I first got there. But it wasn't all that long before I just said "it's a bit white rock with moss all over it". :P

I'm not the only nostalgic mush I see.

I can't say how long I've been gone this time around. I also can't say I'm coming back just yet because every time I do I'm disappointed. Not because it isn't good, but because it's not the same. I'm trying not to erase that memory.

I miss when Sky was king and Kirin took two hours to take down.

I still enjoy listening to some of the soundtrack and remembering my own first steps into Gustaberg. Being so proud of making it to Konschtat Highlands and being utterly dumbfounded after getting my first party in the Dunes, only to have it destroyed by a gob on the first pull. Sure, it could have been because I had no macros yet as a healer, but I still think the horrible camp choice right outside the tunnel didn't help. LOL! A moment I will never forget. I even remember the leader's name. And that was 8 years ago or so.

I recall learning to fish in Selbina.

I remember getting my Airship pass and riding it back and forth just to enjoy the accomplishment.

I remember exploring the lesser traveled areas with my BST looking for quiet camps.

I remember hitting 75 and not being fast enough to get the screen shot.

I especially remember a very fateful shout for help with ZM4... and the months and years that followed both in game and out that changed my life forever. This game will always be a part of me. A part of who I was and who I've become. Never in my life did I think I'd say that about a game and I'm sure there are many who will never understand. But 4.5 years after I shouted in Jeuno for help, I married the Galka who came to my aid IRL.

I read all these posts and enjoyed them all. My husband and I played for years started in 03? Just came back this week. What I miss more than anything is the people who became our friends. I don't even want to play anymore I just watch my husband play and I feel sad lol pathetic but true. My favorite memories...
Parties in the jungle and even valkrummy dunes
Running around with harumo or romm or barreh for no reason
Hiding below deck from mhaura to selbina
How happy I was when I finally had enough fame for utsusemi ichi. Stupid necklaces.
Watching my husband bluetalen die fifty billion times with romm in gusgen or Bordeaux or davoi
exploring the new areas after an expansion and being one of the first to do so
watching friends do O Hat runs rofl
Doing bcnms to try for utsusemi ni drop....took forever
yes we all grew up and moved on with real life but I wish ffxi still had all the players it did back in 04-08. I had some of the best memories of my life then and met some truly great people. Romm fufet barreh khai crazyeight freaky orlandomp Alejandro charibdis harumo narsat darksaint Alexie jefwin and many more

NPC tarus actually do a funnier /panic emote. Show him that.